Lish
A diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning "consecrated to God" or "my God is bountiful."
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Lish. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 77.4% of registrations being male. The average person named Lish today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lish births was 1965 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lish. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Lish is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Lishs were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Lish. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1965
7 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1942 SSA rank
#3,426
Tracked since 1889
Gender
Gender distribution for Lish
Lish is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 31 total registrations, 24 (77.4%) were male and 7 (22.6%) were female.
Lish as a male name
- Ranked #3,426 in 1942
- 6 male births in 1942
- Peak: 1889 (6 births)
Lish as a female name
- Ranked #5,570 in 1965
- 7 female births in 1965
- Peak: 1965 (7 births)
Popularity
Lish: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lish from the 1880s through to the 1960s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lish by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lish during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lish
The name Lish is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is a variation of the name Elisha, which means "God is salvation" or "God is my salvation." The name is found in the Old Testament, where Elisha was a prominent prophet who succeeded Elijah and performed numerous miracles.
In the biblical account, Elisha lived during the 9th century BC and was known for his unwavering faith and devotion to God. His name serves as a reminder of the power of divine intervention and the importance of seeking refuge in the Almighty. The name Lish, being a shortened form of Elisha, carries a similar connotation, albeit in a more concise manner.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Lish can be found in the works of the 12th-century English historian and scholar, William of Malmesbury. He mentioned a man named Lish who served as a notable figure in the court of King Henry I of England (1068-1135). However, details about this individual's life and accomplishments are scarce.
In the 16th century, a Scottish poet and satirist named Sir David Lyndsay (1490-1555) gained recognition for his works that criticized the clergy and the political establishment of his time. He is often referred to as "Lish Lyndsay" or "Lish Lindsay," which was a common nickname derived from his surname.
During the 19th century, an American musician named Lish Whitson (1803-1878) rose to prominence as a skilled fiddler and composer. He was particularly renowned for his contributions to the development of old-time music in the Appalachian region of the United States.
Another notable figure bearing the name Lish was Lish Young (1865-1944), a Native American artist and sculptor from the Navajo Nation. His works, which often depicted scenes from Navajo life and culture, are celebrated for their intricate details and artistic expression.
In more recent times, Lish Steiling (1924-2015) was a renowned Australian artist known for her vibrant abstract paintings and her involvement in the Sydney art scene. Her works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums across Australia and internationally.
While the name Lish may not be as common as its longer counterpart, Elisha, it has a rich history and significance that spans across cultures and eras. Its biblical roots and connection to prophetic figures have imbued the name with a sense of spiritual guidance and divine protection, making it a unique and meaningful choice for those seeking a name with profound religious connotations.
People
Lish + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lish as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lish: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lish?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lish going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Lish a common name?
We classify Lish as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 31 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lish most popular?
The single biggest year for Lish was 1965, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lish is about 70 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Lish in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lish a male name?
Yes, 77.4% of people registered as Lish in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Lish still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lish in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Lish can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Lish?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.